Morgan-Elliott to lead facilities development at Wright State

Wende Morgan-Elliott has been named interim executive director of facilities planning and development

Wright State University Senior Architect Wende Morgan-Elliott has been named interim executive director of facilities planning and development, expanding her duties to include providing leadership to the facilities planning and development team, overseeing campus buildings, assessing the need for renovation and managing available space.

Morgan-Elliott has worked at Wright State for nearly five years, managing the design, construction and budgets of multiple campus projects.

“Wende has proven herself extremely well in terms of client service and providing value to all of the constituencies with whom she engages as a professional,” said Mark M. Polatajko, vice president for business and fiscal affairs and university treasurer. “She brings the experience and credentials necessary to meet the needs of our stakeholders.”

Morgan-Elliott had a major role in the renovation of The Benjamin & Marian Schuster Hall at the Creative Arts Center.

“I think the most successful projects are the ones where the end users are content,” she said. “One of the biggest challenges is how do you capture a vision and implement it in a physical, tangible space?”

Her vision in her new job includes getting campus facilities set for substantial growth.

“It’s not being afraid to push the envelope, being willing to collaborate with other professionals, and understanding what academia needs, what researchers need,” she said.

Vicky Davidson, associate vice president of facilities planning and development, has been named associate vice president of strategic real estate management. Davidson will manage Wright State’s off-campus real estate portfolio, which consists of owned and leased space and buildings in territory stretching from downtown Dayton to Beavercreek Township to Yellow Springs. Davidson, who brings decades of experience in facilities planning to the new role, will work through the Office of the Provost to ensure this portfolio is managed consistent with the university’s master plan.

Morgan-Elliott obtained her bachelor degree in architecture from Miami University and was hired as a planner by Wright State. She owns a Fairborn-based consulting firm that designs residential and light commercial projects.

Morgan-Elliott wants to continue the effort to make university facilities unique and distinctive experiences.

“I want people to remember they were at Wright State,” she said. “I would like to carry on that legacy.”